Long time ago my older kids made similar clusters recipe at the teenage cooking class in our church and since they didn’t write the recipe down they came up with their own recipe. They make these Chocolate Cranberry Granola Clusters any time of the year, but they’re the most fitting for this time of year. They’re so easy and fun to make and are perfect for snacks. You may omit or add any dried fruit you like. If you like to gift baked goods for your neighbors, friends or coworkers these clusters are a perfect addition to that gift. Also, this is a great project to do with your younger kiddos since this recipe requires very little assistance. My kids absolutely love to spend time in the kitchen making fun recipes and baking many holiday goods. These are some of the best memories that are remembered from childhood. I remember spending lots of time cooking and baking with my own mom, and these sweet memories will stay with me for the rest of my life. The more you spend time in the kitchen with your kids the stronger your relationship becomes as its one of the best places bonding happens. Mommy and daughter/son time, as my kids like to say. Since winter break is just around the corner, it may be a perfect project to do with your kiddos in the perfect time.
Ingredients you will need:
2 cups – rice crispy cereal
1 cup – raw slivered almonds
1 cup – salted sunflower seeds
1 cup – honey almond granola
1 cup – dried cranberries
1 cup – dark chocolate discs + ¼ cup for topping
1 cup – white chocolate discs + ¼ cup for topping
Mini paper cup molds
Instructions:
1. Place all the dry cluster ingredients in a bowl and mix it well.
2. Melt chocolate discs in a heat proof bowl over a pot with boiling water. Add 3 cups of cluster mix. Stir well so all the ingredients are well coated with chocolate.
3. Fill each paper cup with rounded ice cream scoop of cluster mix. Melt ¼ cup of dark chocolate in the microwave on the chocolate melt setting. Cut off the edge of the Ziploc bag and decorate the white chocolate clusters.
4. Repeat step 1 making dark chocolate clusters (you may use milk chocolate melts as some kids do not like dark chocolate).
5. Repeat step 2 with filling the paper cups with dark chocolate clusters and decorating it with white chocolate.
6. Let the chocolate harden for a couple of hours before serving (place it in the fridge for 10 min to speed up the hardening process). Enjoy!
- 2 cups – rice crispy cereal
- 1 cup – raw slivered almonds
- 1 cup – salted sunflower seeds
- 1 cup – honey almond granola
- 1 cup – dried cranberries
- 1 cup – dark chocolate discs + ¼ cup for topping
- 1 cup – white chocolate discs + ¼ cup for topping
- Mini paper cup molds
- Place all the dry cluster ingredients in a bowl and mix it well.
- Melt chocolate discs in a heat proof bowl over a pot with boiling water. Add 3 cups of cluster mix. Stir well so all the ingredients are well coated with white chocolate.
- Fill each paper cup with rounded ice cream scoop of cluster mix. Melt ¼ cup of dark chocolate in the microwave on the chocolate melt setting. Cut off the edge of the Ziploc bag and decorate the white chocolate clusters.
- Repeat step 1 making dark chocolate clusters (you may use milk chocolate melts as some kids do not like dark chocolate).
- Repeat step 2 with filling the paper cups with dark chocolate clusters and decorating it with white chocolate.
- Let the chocolate harden for a couple of hours before serving (place it in the fridge for 10 min to speed up the hardening process). Enjoy!
If you make this recipe please share the picture with me on facebook, instagram or pinterest. Tag it with #valyastasteofhome, I would love to see your creation. 🙂
Can’t wait to make these with my boys!
Kids love making this stuff, its so much fun. Enjoy!
We used pumpkin seeds instead of sunflower seeds! And we loved white chocolate ones! Definitely will be making more! Thank you Valya for the recipe!
Great idea adding pumpkin seeds. I’m glad you like it. 🙂
Can i use semi sweets instead those disk?
You sure can.